Barclays holds talks

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Barclays bank has held merger talks with US bank Wells Fargo
that could create a financial giant worth about $US180 billion
($237 billion), the Sunday Express has reported.

Citing sources close to both banks, The newspaper said talks
took place in October and November but could be resumed in coming
weeks.

A Barclays spokeswoman said the bank did not comment on market
speculation. Officials at Wells Fargo could not be reached for
comment.

Wells Fargo has a sharemarket value of about $US105 billion,
according to Reuters data. Barclays has a market value of around
$US72 billion.

Barclays was the subject of much bid speculation last year. In
August, its shares rose sharply on speculation that US bank
Citigroup might bid for it, while it has also been linked with Bank
of America.